Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 949
Helena – It’s time for landowners with land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program to send in applications for enrollment in the state-sponsored Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters, a voluntary incentive program designed to benefit landowners while also providing habitat for upland game birds and giving bird hunters more places to hunt. Open Fields is offered through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program and is available to private landowners with existing CRP with at least two years remaining on th...
Bozeman, MT - Feb. 16 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is delivering on its promise to expand markets by investing $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. USDA is now accepting project a...
Washington - Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15 to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues. “The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical financial protections to many American farmers. As producers continue to weather a...
Limited forage quality and quantity due to drought has resulted in many North Dakota livestock producers purchasing hay and other feeds from outside their region that would normally be harvested from their own farms/ranches or purchased locally. Although many ranchers purchased hay early, challenging weather has forced some to look for additional supplies to get them through the remainder of the winter feeding period. "When purchasing feedstuffs, it is important to ask a lot of questions to...
Bozeman, MT - The American Farm Bureau Federation has sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, asking the Department of Justice to provide an update on its investigation into the meatpacking industry. The Department of Justice began an investigation after excessive volatility in the live and fed cattle markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “With over 80% of the fed cattle market controlled by only four major packing companies, we are concerned about the control these firms have,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall wrote. “We...
At 3:30 p.m., Upendra Sainju, Northern Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory research scientist will be discussing soil carbon storage under dryland wheat-based cropping systems at the Wheat Show, Feb. 9. Sainju will discuss long-term research in eastern Montana, involving 10-36 years of experiments. He will also touch on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, and nitrogen fertilization on soil organic carbon to a depth of 4 ft. Since 2004, Sainju has been working at the USDA-ARS, researching...
Dr. Adnan Akyuz is the North Dakota State Climatologist and professor of climatological practice at North Dakota State University. He also oversees the activities of the ND State Climate Office. Akyuz served as the American Association of State Climatologists (AASC) president, a professional, scientific organization between 2018 and 2020. He is a member of the Standing Committee on Climate Services Expert Teams with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Jason Cook is an Assistant...
The 2022 North Dakota Reclamation Conference, "Investing in Effective Reclamation," will focus on reclamation practices and technology to improve reclamation success. The conference will be held March 1 at the Astoria Event Center, Dickinson, ND. The conference begins with registration at 7:30 a.m., and the first session beginning at 8 a.m. This event will bring together those working on reclamation in the region to discuss effective reclamation strategies. The conference will include a general...
Helena - The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the 2022 hemp growing season after receiving federal approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its state hemp production plan which took effect Jan. 1. “Montana’s hemp industry continues to advance and present opportunities for growers, especially with regard to fiber and grain,” said Christy Clark, Montana Department of Agriculture acting director. “Our department is proud to operate a hemp program that has been federally compliant...
Washington - Dec. 20 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements, and invested in additional staff to work directly with partners for str...
Farmers can elect coverage and enroll in crop-by-crop Agricultural Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs within each Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm unit, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2022 crop year, says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension farm management specialist. Although election changes for 2022 are optional, enrollment by signed contract is required for each year of the program. This is an annual decision that farmers...
Farmers will have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) election and the decisions the programs entail during a webinar that North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension and the North Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA) are hosting on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m. CST. The webinar will also include information on FSA's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The ARC and PLC sign-up period runs through March 15...
Washington - Dec. 20 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is leveraging its authorities under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) to bring in new types of partners and ultimately expand opportunities in voluntary conservation for the Nation’s agricultural producers and private landowners. In direct response to feedback from state agencies, Tribes, non-profits and other groups, USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements, and invested in additional staff to work directly with partners for str...
Farmers can elect coverage and enroll in crop-by-crop Agricultural Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs within each Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm unit, or ARC-Individual for the entire farm, for the 2022 crop year, says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension farm management specialist. Although election changes for 2022 are optional, enrollment by signed contract is required for each year of the program. This is an annual decision that farmers...
11 MT Counties Triggered; U.S. Drought Monitor Updated Weekly Livestock producers in 56 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land or fire on federally managed land. County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of...
Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends is a priority for many Americans, but paying attention to how the meal will impact the budget is also important. Farm Bureau’s 36th annual survey indicates the average cost of this year’s classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $53.31 or less than $6 per person. This is a $6.41 or 14% increase from last year’s average of $46.90. The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – costs more than last year, at $23.99 for a 16-lb. bird. That’s roughly $1.50 per pound, up 24% from last y...
11 MT Counties Triggered; U.S. Drought Monitor Updated Weekly Livestock producers in 56 Montana counties are eligible to apply for 2021 Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) benefits on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass, and forage sorghum. LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or leased land or fire on federally managed land. County committees can only accept LFP applications after notification is received by the National Office of...
Farming/ranching rank among the top ten most stressful occupations in the United States. Too much stress takes a toll on health, including one’s mental and emotional well-being. Adult Mental Health First Aid, a program that addresses ongoing issues of farm/ranch stress, will be held from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Nov. 10 at NDSU Extension/McKenzie County, Watford City. Pre-registration is requested prior to attending by going to https://myfirstlink.org/events or please call NDSU E...
Farmers and ranchers face tough times, but during the 102nd Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention Nov. 8-11 in Billings, keynote speakers will provide uplifting insights and valuable information to make the road easier. Members of the states’ largest agricultural organization grow a wide range of products, including beef cattle, wheat, sugar beets, chickpeas, barley, sheep, bees, and more. Jay Hill will kick off the convention Tuesday morning, talking about standing behind one’s heritage while pushing for the future. His keynote will lead to...
Family and Community Wellness. The Adult Mental Health First Aid program assists participants to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health concerns, such as depression, and connect others with available resources. Addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of those working in agriculture or other areas will be focused on in several upcoming seminars sponsored by NDSU Extension and FirstLink. Registration is now open for three scheduled seminars in western North Dakota...
Park County, MT - Montana Non-Profit, the Producer Partnership, calls on the help of farmers and ranchers who want to work together in ending hunger in Montana. Since foundation in 2019, the Producer Partnership has donated nearly 80,000 pounds of beef to Montana Food Bank Networks (MFBN). “We are local producers, local meat processors, and local food centers working in partnership to provide Montana meat to those individuals and families with food insecurity. This is the spirit of Montana neighbors helping one another in times of t...
Washington - In response to the severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA is updating the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to immediately cover feed transportation costs for drought-impacted ranchers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide more details and tools to help ranchers get ready to apply at their local USDA Service Cente...
Billings - USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers of fall-planted crops in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2022 crop year before the Sept. 30 sales closing date. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the Sept. 30 sales closing date to do so. The Sept. 30 sales closing date applies to the following crops and states: Fall Planted Wheat with Winter Coverage - Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming; Forage Production - M...
Washington - In response to the severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its plans to help cover the cost of transporting feed for livestock that rely on grazing. USDA is updating the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to immediately cover feed transportation costs for drought-impacted ranchers. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide more details and tools to help ranchers get ready to apply at their local USDA Service Cente...
Sidney - USDA, Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, in collaboration with the Soil Health Institute in NC, evaluated the measurement of carbon dioxide flush—a rapid, reliable, and inexpensive method producers can use to measure soil health on dryland cropping systems—and refined it to be closely associated with most soil properties and long-term crop production. Farmers, producers, and managers increasingly want to use soil health assessments to measure the level of desired properties in their...
